THW Kiel will meet Cuidad Real in the Champions League final next month after beating Barcelona 78-75 on aggregate.

The German side lost the second leg in Spain 44-37, but had built up enough of a lead from their 41-31 first leg win to book a place against the 2006 champions in the final.

The visitors had gone into half time 20-19 ahead, but the Catalan side fought back to restore their pride with an eight-goal swing after the break.

On Friday, Cuidad Real rode their luck to reach the final with a 60-59 aggregate victory over SV Hamburg.

The Spanish side led 34-27 from the first leg, but were made to fight for their place in the final.

Hamburg still harboured hopes of reaching the final in their first season in the Champions League, and forced themselves into a 14-11 lead at half-time in front of a 13,000 strong-crowd at the Color-Line Arena.

Although the 2006 champions pegged them back to 24-22 in the second half, Hamburg powered away in the closing minutes to win the second leg by six points.

Cuidad Real goalkeeper Arpas Sterbik made a dramatic save with just 20 seconds remaining, before Olafur Stefansson was sent off, to stop the home side progressing on away goals.

Tony Mabert / Eurosport